Royal flashback: the Princess Anne kidnapping attempt that rocked Buckingham Palace, and how she somersaulted her way out of danger and a £2 million ransom

Jul 15 , 2021

Princess Anne, seen on a royal visit to Canada in November 1974, some months after an attempted kidnapping in London. Photo: Toronto Star via Getty Images

Inside the Austin limo in 1974 was the princess, her then-husband Captain Mark Phillips, a lady-in-waiting, royal chauffeur and police inspector James Beaton

Queen Elizabeth awarded the George Cross to Beaton, and the George Medal, Queen’s Gallantry Medals and a Queen’s Commendation to others involved

At about 8pm on March 20, 1974, an Austin limo was travelling down the Mall in London headed towards Buckingham Palace when a white Ford pulled in front of them and stopped, blocking the limo. A man described as having a beard and light red hair got out. His name was Ian Ball, and he was there to kidnap a princess.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth with her daughter Princess Anne in June 2013. Photo: AP Photo

The scene

Inside the royal car was Princess Anne and her then-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, as well as a lady-in-waiting, Rowena Jane Brassey. The car was driven by Alex Callender, a royal chauffeur. In the front with him was Metropolitan Police inspector James Beaton, a member of SO14, the Royalty Protection Command. Beaton was the only officer assigned to protect the princess that night. At the time, there was no specific training afforded to royal protection officers, as there was little thought of a threat to members of the family. Even the queen was routinely assigned only one armed guard at the time when she was executing her official duties.

Princess Anne and Mark Phillips arrive in Sydney in October 1980. Photo: Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Beaton was, however, armed with a semi-automatic Walther PPK. As Callender drove down the Mall, the driver of the white Ford started behaving strangely. Callender was trying to drive around the vehicle, but to no avail. The Ford then bumped into the Austin and stopped in front of it, blocking its way.

Beaton got out of the car, as did Ball, the driver of the Ford. He later told police: “I had thought about it for years. She [Anne] would have been the easiest. I had seen her riding with her husband.”

Ball had brought two handguns with him. As Beaton walked around the Austin, still thinking this was a traffic altercation, Ball shot him in the shoulder from around two metres away. The unemployed Ball had come anticipating violence, and was prepared to use his weapons. He told police: “Well, the police, that’s their job. They expect to be shot. I took a chance at getting shot, so why shouldn’t they?”